The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced plans to begin a nationwide strike on January 12, 2024.
In a statement issued after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, the association said the decision followed the Federal Government’s failure to meet its long-standing demands.
NARD President, Dr. Dele Abdullahi, said doctors have grown frustrated with repeated delays, unfulfilled promises, and poor working conditions.
He noted that the government has yet to implement agreements on salary arrears, hazard allowances, the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), and proper welfare packages.
“We’ve exercised patience for months, but the government keeps ignoring our concerns,” Abdullahi said. “We can’t continue working under these harsh conditions.”
He added that the strike will affect federal and state hospitals across the country unless the government intervenes before the deadline.
Resident doctors are demanding immediate payment of the 2023 MRTF, a revised hazard allowance, and urgent efforts to address brain drain in the health sector.
They are also calling for the replacement of exited doctors and the upward review of salaries to reflect current economic realities.
The NEC urged Nigerians to understand the doctors’ plight, stating that the strike is not intended to punish patients but to demand justice and better care conditions.
NARD advised the Federal Ministry of Health and relevant agencies to act swiftly and avoid another healthcare crisis.
If no progress is made by January 12, the doctors say they will proceed with an indefinite nationwide strike.
